AN 'improvement notice' has been served on an Inverclyde children's residential home after watchdogs highlighted a 'pattern of concerns' during recent inspections.

The Care Inspectorate has ordered Dallifour in Kilmacolm to get its house in order within the next month to offer better care and support to those who use the service.

The house, registered to care for one child or young person, was visited by an inspector in February and March as follow-ups to a previous assessment last year which had graded the quality of the service's support for children and young people's rights and wellbeing as 'weak'.

That report found the quality of care for young people was 'significantly compromised as a result of instabilities within the service', including staff retention, staff recruitment and inconsistency of care and support.

According to the regulatory body, the most recent inspections judged admissions to the service had been 'poorly planned', while staff 'did not feel equipped to care for the young person'.

The report said: "The staff were reliant on high levels of restrictive practice to prevent the young person from causing harm to themselves and others.

"There was an absence of independent advocacy to safeguard the rights of the young person."

It added: "As a result of concerns at this inspection and the pattern of concerns following on from previous inspection work, we decided to issue an improvement notice and three additional requirements for immediate action.

"We found at this inspection that the only admission had been poorly planned. Staff had been trained in basic care and support techniques but had not had specialist training focused on the presenting and assessed needs of the young person.

"Furthermore, a number of the staff lacked significant experience of supporting young people with complex additional support needs."

The inspection report also stated that at times, up to five staff members were involved in overseeing restraints for one person at the home.

It stated: "Allegations made by the young person against staff and managers were inconsistently reported to lead professionals and to the Care Inspectorate.

"The service had been damaged and we found repairs had inconsistently been carried out.

"This had resulted in the young person's right to live in a homely, safe and comfortable environment being compromised."

Dallifour is one of parent company Greenleaf House's newer services, with the operators also in charge of seven other homes throughout Scotland.

Three complaints, all from February last year, have been upheld since the service was formed in December 2021.

The Care Inspectorate has issued three requirements for the service to meet by the end of April and mid-May, in order to protect the safety of those who use the service and to ensure quality care, support and protection through the effective management of incidents.

These include further training for staff, minimal use of physical restraint when responding to incidents and repairing and maintaining the home to a higher standard.

The Care Inspectorate states that an improvement notice may be served when they have 'sufficient concerns about a service'.

Although it is a 'last resort', the industry watchdog 'may pursue the cancellation' of a service if the provider fails to make the required improvements within the given timescale.

Dallifour's operators, Greenleaf House Co, declined to comment when contacted by the Telegraph.